Relatives of Mohamed Mezlini are reeling from the news of the Terrytown resident's murder, but say his life is not defined by the brutal crime committed against him.

"He is defined by what a great man he is/was and how much he changed the lives of everyone he met for the better," said Mezlini's sister-in-law, Bianca Alba, 25.

Mezlini, 29, was pronounced dead Sunday (Sept. 9), one day after he was found unresponsive and bound by duct tape inside a vacant storefront in a strip mall at 93 Terry Parkway, Terrytown, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.

An autopsy determined Mezlini died of asphyxia by strangulation and smothering, according to the Jefferson Parish coroner's office. His death was classified as a homicide.

Detectives arrested Yazan Omar, 17, of Harvey, and booked him with second-degree murder in Mezlini's death. The Sheriff's Office also obtained a warrant for Omar's brother, Saleh Omar, 40, for second-degree murder. Saleh Omar was still at large as of Tuesday afternoon.

Yazan Omar appeared in Jefferson Parish Magistrate Court Tuesday morning before Commissioner Patricia Joyce, who had set his bond at $750,000. Attorney Davidson Ehle enrolled to represent Yazan Omar.

Ehle said his investigation of the case is still in the preliminary stages.

"His brother, Saleh, is the bad actor, here," Ehle said. "My client is 17 years old. My client did not harm Mohamed in any way."

Mezlini used to work for Salem Omar, who rents the vacant store (suite #8) where Mezlini was found, as well as the cell phone business in store #7, next door. Mezlini stopped working for Saleh Omar a little over a year ago, Alba said.

According to authorities, Mezlini was seen with Saleh Omar inside Omar's vacant storefront on Saturday afternoon. At least one passerby noticed a commotion coming from the suite, which had paper covering the front windows and door.

Yazan Omar went into the vacant storefront at some point. After Saleh Omar emerged and drove off from the strip mall, witnesses realized that Mezlini never walked out of the store, according to authorities.

They forced open the locked storefront door and found Mezlini unresponsive and covered in duct tape, authorities said. He was taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans where he was pronounced dead Sunday.

"He didn't deserve this," Alba said through tears. "He fought hard for his life in the hospital."

Mezlini's family has no idea why anyone, including the Omar brothers, would want to hurt him.

"He was so friendly. No one expected this," Alba said.

Mezlini was from Tunisia in North Africa. He'd been in the New Orleans area for a few years, according to Alba.

He met her sister several years ago, and the two were married in 2015, according to Jefferson Parish court records.

"They wanted to have a family," Alba said.

Mezlini always had a warm and welcoming smile. He considered his friends to be like family and loved to drink coffee with them. Mezlini also loved soccer and spending time with his wife, Alba said.

Mezlini was a devout Muslim who was very involved with his local mosque, according to Alba.

"He was very respectful and very peaceful," she said. "He was a really good man and very loved."

**Clarification: The headline of this story has been changed to more accurately reflect Mohamed Mezlini's case of death, asphyxiation by duct tape.